What are the PM’s powers?

PM can appoint life peers to the lords – enables PM to alter party balance within Lords.
Blair appointed 162 Labour peers.
There was a police inquiry in 2006 which questioned whether Labour party donors were being rewarded with peerages – no charges but led to honours system.
Nominations are now considered by honours committees.

PMs are free to appoint/dismiss gov ministers, meaning they can create a cabinet in their own image, rewarding supports and penalising disloyal MPs.
In 2016, 15 ministers in Cameron’s cabinet were not appt to May’s first cabinet.
Ideological considerations are taken – most of May’s first cabinet voted to remain, other than the ones such as BoJo who were put in charge of Brexit.
PMs can reshuffle cabinet portfolios (cabinet reshuffles).
Senior ministers occasionally refuse to change posts – GB planned to make Ed Balls chancellor in 2009 but Alastair Darling refused to accept another post and Brown relented.

A working maj strengthens a gov’s position because there are better able to enact their programme.
Increased backbench rebellions mean that the PM cannot always rely on party support.
Con-LD gov’s proposals on reforming the Lords were dropped after a rebellion by Conservative MPs.
Conservative rebellions regarding EU membership also lead to Cameron promising an in/out referendum.